Merged: O-Line Talk Threads

[MsMarvel73]

Just getting some thoughts out of my head, since the rattling is getting on my nerves

Ok, fess up everyone....what did you honest and truly think when you heard we picked up Gaither in the '07 supplemental? And do you not think now that the risk was worth it?

I personally think that within the next two or three drafts, we need to draft a center or a guy capable of playing center. Matt Birk isn't going to be around forever and I'd rather see a young guy come in while he's still here and learn from him while he's here. I really don't want to see Chris Chester in the middle unless it's an absolute emergency.

And yeah, I too think Yanda needs to start on the right side opposite Grubbs.




Discuss, please.

[RavensAllTheWay]

Seriously, what has happened to our O line in recent weeks? Out of the blue, we go from playing great at the line, to letting everyone on the opposing D into the backfield. People say our WR corps is the biggest problem with the offense and even the whole team for that matter. Completely disagree.

Why was Flacco throwing for huge numbers early in the year with the EXACT SAME RECEIVERS HE HAS TODAY? Because back then, he had TIME to put up these numbers instead of checkdown after checkdown which is what we see all the time now.

[hammer]

[quote name='RavensAllTheWay' date='23 November 2009 - 10:37 PM' timestamp='1259030249' post='291966']
Seriously, what has happened to our O line in recent weeks? Out of the blue, we go from playing great at the line, to letting everyone on the opposing D into the backfield. People say our WR corps is the biggest problem with the offense and even the whole team for that matter. Completely disagree.

Why was Flacco throwing for huge numbers early in the year with the EXACT SAME RECEIVERS HE HAS TODAY? Because back then, he had TIME to put up these numbers instead of checkdown after checkdown which is what we see all the time now.
[/quote]

I think your comments are running counter to the point of the OP.

[Bltravens]

Isnt David Hale being groomed for that exact reason?

[Fred Sanford]

I was happy as hell when we picked up Gaither. I don't watch a ton of Maryland games but I saw him listed at 6'9", and then saw he wasn't just an oaf but an actual athlete with good feet for a guy that size. He obviously dominated most of the guys he faced in college, although Chris Long and Mario Williams used to kill Maryland. You had to be intrigued by a guy like that learning under Ogden.

Gaither and Oher did as good of a job against Freeney and Mathis as you'll ever see. Strange how the Browns' no-names gave us problems, and the Colts interior linemen, yet we shut down their ends without a lot of double teams.

[52Kia Kaha92]

This offensive line has 3 all pros and a pro bowler sitting on the bench
The All Pros are Gaither, Grubbs and Oher
The Pro Bowler is Yanda

I realy dont know why yanda isnt starting. Chester is horrible and it looks like people are realising like i have all year that he is trash and isnt a starter in this leage. Chester needs to be replaced by Yanda is a pro bowler IMO. he is a mauler wholoves contact and just bowls people over on running plays. he is good in pass protection but amazing in run blocking. To fix this line we need to target a center in the draft early and also start yanda and this line will be elite. Gaither and Grubbs have great chemistry and work together very well.

[Betweenthetackles]

I'm sorry ladies and gentlemen...the game is won in the trenches and when the game was on the line our offense line (interior)got blown back. Not to mention that on 2 and goal Mcgahee was running with his eyes closed as their was a nice seam to the outside just inside LeRon. I watched the DVR 3 times last night after the game forward-rewind/forward-rewind and I can tell you that we're just not a physical offensive line...The Blind Side got blind sided back in the backfield 3 yards.
Watch the game...you'll see what I saw. I was at the game Section 511 right behind the action...we had no push.

And why does LeRon fist pump his chest...he's nowhere near the blocker that Neal was...not even close..doesn't get his head on the right side and get under defenders and drive. Yes, he is great runner..but down on the goal line we need him to be a battering ram...which he's not. Out at midfield...3 and 1..either McGahee or LeRon didn't get the first down as well. How demoralizing for a team...think it was LeRon. Love that article about his mama.."give me the ball, I'll get the first down...Well LeRon, I have news for you...you didn't...all 275 lbs of you didn't.

Also, watch McGahee stutter step side to side on the 2nd and goal run...and pause...can't do that!!!!!!!! Have to drive, spin, and get low.

You guys are going to call me crazy...but I honestly feel that LeRon and Jalen Parmele.......yes, Jalen Parmele would have scored on that 2 and goal on the 1.
He's slippery, has great vision and a little bit more burst..I'd like to see him get in the game against the Steelers to assist in some good tackle to tackle running. Why not throw him out there a few times...heck, maybe against the lions?


Anyone else at the game and see the lack of push from the line?

Thank god for Ray Rice and Mason...heck, without those two it would have been a absolute drilling.

By the way...leave the kicker alone, 5 for 6 is steller...take it everytime...
The offense needs a little adjustment...bring back ball control and play action pass like last year.

[shaikh015]

[quote name='Betweenthetackles' date='24 November 2009 - 12:20 AM' timestamp='1259040020' post='292273']
I'm sorry ladies and gentlemen...the game is won in the trenches and when the game was on the line our offense line (interior)got blown back. Not to mention that on 2 and goal Mcgahee was running with his eyes closed as their was a nice seam to the outside just inside LeRon. I watched the DVR 3 times last night after the game forward-rewind/forward-rewind and I can tell you that we're just not a physical offensive line...The Blind Side got blind sided back in the backfield 3 yards.
Watch the game...you'll see what I saw. I was at the game Section 511 right behind the action...we had no push.

And why does LeRon fist pump his chest...he's nowhere near the blocker that Neal was...not even close..doesn't get his head on the right side and get under defenders and drive. Yes, he is great runner..but down on the goal line we need him to be a battering ram...which he's not. Out at midfield...3 and 1..either McGahee or LeRon didn't get the first down as well. How demoralizing for a team...think it was LeRon. Love that article about his mama.."give me the ball, I'll get the first down...Well LeRon, I have news for you...you didn't...all 275 lbs of you didn't.

Also, watch McGahee stutter step side to side on the 2nd and goal run...and pause...can't do that!!!!!!!! Have to drive, spin, and get low.

You guys are going to call me crazy...but I honestly feel that LeRon and Jalen Parmele.......yes, Jalen Parmele would have scored on that 2 and goal on the 1.
He's slippery, has great vision and a little bit more burst..I'd like to see him get in the game against the Steelers to assist in some good tackle to tackle running. Why not throw him out there a few times...heck, maybe against the lions?


Anyone else at the game and see the lack of push from the line?

Thank god for Ray Rice and Mason...heck, without those two it would have been a absolute drilling.

By the way...leave the kicker alone, 5 for 6 is steller...take it everytime...
The offense needs a little adjustment...bring back ball control and play action pass like last year.
[/quote]
section 511 what seat numbers did you have?
Do you think I can get them for the next weeks game?

[Guest I-70WestRaven]

[quote name='Betweenthetackles' date='23 November 2009 - 11:20 PM' timestamp='1259040020' post='292273']
I'm sorry ladies and gentlemen...the game is won in the trenches and when the game was on the line our offense line (interior)got blown back. Not to mention that on 2 and goal Mcgahee was running with his eyes closed as their was a nice seam to the outside just inside LeRon. I watched the DVR 3 times last night after the game forward-rewind/forward-rewind and I can tell you that we're just not a physical offensive line...The Blind Side got blind sided back in the backfield 3 yards.
Watch the game...you'll see what I saw. I was at the game Section 511 right behind the action...we had no push.

And why does LeRon fist pump his chest...he's nowhere near the blocker that Neal was...not even close..doesn't get his head on the right side and get under defenders and drive. Yes, he is great runner..but down on the goal line we need him to be a battering ram...which he's not. Out at midfield...3 and 1..either McGahee or LeRon didn't get the first down as well. How demoralizing for a team...think it was LeRon. Love that article about his mama.."give me the ball, I'll get the first down...Well LeRon, I have news for you...you didn't...all 275 lbs of you didn't.

Also, watch McGahee stutter step side to side on the 2nd and goal run...and pause...can't do that!!!!!!!! Have to drive, spin, and get low.

You guys are going to call me crazy...but I honestly feel that LeRon and Jalen Parmele.......yes, Jalen Parmele would have scored on that 2 and goal on the 1.
He's slippery, has great vision and a little bit more burst..I'd like to see him get in the game against the Steelers to assist in some good tackle to tackle running. Why not throw him out there a few times...heck, maybe against the lions?


Anyone else at the game and see the lack of push from the line?

Thank god for Ray Rice and Mason...heck, without those two it would have been a absolute drilling.

By the way...leave the kicker alone, 5 for 6 is steller...take it everytime...
The offense needs a little adjustment...bring back ball control and play action pass like last year.
[/quote]
Good observatoin.I tend to hope that the relative youth of the O-line means that experince and determimination on each individuals part to improve will lead to what is needed most,a cohesive unit.Matt Birk,a seasoned vetern can surly help them with some aspects of their play,but the rest as they say is up to them.Talent is one thing but just as you can't measure a players heart(I second you're sentiments on Ray Rice)the perfect example of heart,so too it's hard to gauge whats goin' on "between the ears".We are going to find out,hopfully while the window is still open be it however small.I don't think you're crazy,I saw what you saw,we need to fix this somehow and at this point all options much be on the table!

[RonTN226]

I agree to a certain extent about our O-Line being weak in the interior. However, sometimes they do well and sometimes they don't. It just sucks when it happens when it really counts. I think our interior O-Line is obviously much better at working for long yardage runs than pushing for short yardage on third down. I just never really found the sense in driving the middle on all three down right next to the goal line. I-Formation or Strong I-Formation with Rice around the outside tackle with a TE and McClain support wouldn't have done us better?

[MsMarvel73]

[quote name='Bltravens' date='23 November 2009 - 09:51 PM' timestamp='1259031082' post='291998']
Isnt David Hale being groomed for that exact reason?
[/quote]


LOL...I forgot about Hale. You may be right. I dunno though cause he's listed on the roster as guard/tackle. Chester's the one listed as guard/center.

[MsMarvel73]

Oh and another thought that somehow went forgotten last night:

What do you guys think of Adam Terry? I mean what should be done. He's been a favorite of mine since coming out of 'Cuse but he's been a serious disappointment. Should he stay or should he go?

[Tank 92]

[quote name='Betweenthetackles' date='24 November 2009 - 12:20 AM' timestamp='1259040020' post='292273']
I'm sorry ladies and gentlemen...the game is won in the trenches and when the game was on the line our offense line (interior)got blown back. Not to mention that on 2 and goal Mcgahee was running with his eyes closed as their was a nice seam to the outside just inside LeRon. I watched the DVR 3 times last night after the game forward-rewind/forward-rewind and I can tell you that we're just not a physical offensive line...The Blind Side got blind sided back in the backfield 3 yards.
Watch the game...you'll see what I saw. I was at the game Section 511 right behind the action...we had no push.

And why does LeRon fist pump his chest...he's nowhere near the blocker that Neal was...not even close..doesn't get his head on the right side and get under defenders and drive. Yes, he is great runner..but down on the goal line we need him to be a battering ram...which he's not. Out at midfield...3 and 1..either McGahee or LeRon didn't get the first down as well. How demoralizing for a team...think it was LeRon. Love that article about his mama.."give me the ball, I'll get the first down...Well LeRon, I have news for you...you didn't...all 275 lbs of you didn't.

Also, watch McGahee stutter step side to side on the 2nd and goal run...and pause...can't do that!!!!!!!! Have to drive, spin, and get low.

You guys are going to call me crazy...but I honestly feel that LeRon and Jalen Parmele.......yes, Jalen Parmele would have scored on that 2 and goal on the 1.
He's slippery, has great vision and a little bit more burst..I'd like to see him get in the game against the Steelers to assist in some good tackle to tackle running. Why not throw him out there a few times...heck, maybe against the lions?


Anyone else at the game and see the lack of push from the line?

Thank god for Ray Rice and Mason...heck, without those two it would have been a absolute drilling.

By the way...leave the kicker alone, 5 for 6 is steller...take it everytime...
The offense needs a little adjustment...bring back ball control and play action pass like last year.
[/quote]

I was at the game, 5 rows from the field, and I saw the O line play one hell of a game! Were they perfect? No. But what a great performance from a young group of guys. (OK, Birk is old)

Rather than bash the O line I think it more appropriate to question the play calling the entire game. Stating the obvious, when you are predictable, you become easy to defend. A little imagination prior to and during the plays at the 1 would have gone a long way in keeping the Colts honest. Yes, the O line may not have gotten the needed push, but that was an excellent, quick and agile group on the other side of the ball who had the D called to stop the exact plays we called. Hard for any line to overcome stacking the middle the way they did.

I agree, Leron is not Lorenzo Neal. So why expect the same results? Neal made a career of opening huge holes for various marquee running backs, we really can't expect the same from Leron at this point in his career. It's a shame Neal is not again in our backfield. He is one of the best FBs in the history of the game. It seems Leron may be more of a natural bashing RB than FB.

Spot on with McGahee. To be fair; Why did we bring him in cold and expect results? I'm not sure Parmele could have done any better considering the situation.

I say bring back some imagination in the play calling and use the no huddle more, up the tempo as we did in the Denver game. Keep the D off balance and guessing, thus making any play harder to defend.

Finally, that was a 30 yarder Cundiff missed! Enough said.

[Tank 92]

[quote name='PARavensgirl' date='23 November 2009 - 09:21 PM' timestamp='1259029298' post='291925']
Just getting some thoughts out of my head, since the rattling is getting on my nerves

Ok, fess up everyone....what did you honest and truly think when you heard we picked up Gaither in the '07 supplemental? And do you not think now that the risk was worth it?

I personally think that within the next two or three drafts, we need to draft a center or a guy capable of playing center. Matt Birk isn't going to be around forever and I'd rather see a young guy come in while he's still here and learn from him while he's here. I really don't want to see Chris Chester in the middle unless it's an absolute emergency.

And yeah, I too think Yanda needs to start on the right side opposite Grubbs.




Discuss, please.
[/quote]


Jared Gaither was a steal. With him and Oher at the tackle positions we have two huge and talented players that will anchor the O line for years to come. And you gotta love the way Jared played through the injuries last year, just a great, stand up statement that you rarely see in today's game.

Start the Yanda Bear!!

[PuRock]

[quote name='PARavensgirl' date='23 November 2009 - 09:21 PM' timestamp='1259029298' post='291925']
Ok, fess up everyone....what did you honest and truly think when you heard we picked up Gaither in the '07 supplemental? And do you not think now that the risk was worth it?
[/quote]

Personally I was glad when I heard we got Gaither in the Supplemental draft. I was surprised he only went in the fifth.

It was hard not to get excited because, he skipped the regular draft, had the same size as Ogden, we had a weak O-Line at this time.

But Gaither has exceeded my expectations.

He wasn't really that risky of a player for a 5th rounder. Many projected him to go much higher than that.

[RavensAllTheWay]

[quote name='hammer' date='23 November 2009 - 10:43 PM' timestamp='1259030600' post='291981']
I think your comments are running counter to the point of the OP.
[/quote]
Why?

[MsMarvel73]

[quote name='PuRock' date='24 November 2009 - 01:31 PM' timestamp='1259087512' post='292531']
Personally I was glad when I heard we got Gaither in the Supplemental draft. I was surprised he only went in the fifth.

It was hard not to get excited because, he skipped the regular draft, had the same size as Ogden, we had a weak O-Line at this time.

But Gaither has exceeded my expectations.

He wasn't really that risky of a player for a 5th rounder. [b]Many projected him to go much higher than that.[/b]
[/quote]

Think he didn't because of his 'issues'? I admit I was really skeptical at first but I do remember thinking, 'Well Ozzie and Eric see something in him' and hoped at that point that he would amount to something.

I haven't been disappointed. Oh heck no.

Adam Terry on the other hand....As much as I hate to say it, I don't think we should hang onto him much longer. He's not consistently healthy...and heck we dumped Dan Cody for pretty much the same reason.

[PuRock]

[quote name='PARavensgirl' date='24 November 2009 - 03:49 PM' timestamp='1259095763' post='292625']
Think he didn't because of his 'issues'? I admit I was really skeptical at first but I do remember thinking, 'Well Ozzie and Eric see something in him' and hoped at that point that he would amount to something.
[/quote]

And when have "issues" really been a deterrent for selecting players? See Percy Harvin & Crabtree.

There a few teams that rest their laurels on "Character." The Ravens being one of them. But they grab bad asses with the idea that they can turn them into straight up football players.

[MsMarvel73]

[quote name='PuRock' date='24 November 2009 - 04:11 PM' timestamp='1259097118' post='292654']
And when have "issues" really been a deterrent for selecting players? See Percy Harvin & Crabtree.

There a few teams that rest their laurels on "Character." The Ravens being one of them. But they grab bad asses with the idea that they can turn them into straight up football players.
[/quote]


True true. I meant that in the context of him dropping to the fifth....perhaps other teams didn't think he was worth it because of all that baggage.

I'm VERY glad we gave him the chance.

[Ravens 09]

[quote name='jt3751' date='24 November 2009 - 08:22 AM' timestamp='1259068937' post='292357']
I was at the game, 5 rows from the field, and I saw the O line play one hell of a game! Were they perfect? No. But what a great performance from a young group of guys. (OK, Birk is old)

Rather than bash the O line I think it more appropriate to question the play calling the entire game. Stating the obvious, when you are predictable, you become easy to defend. A little imagination prior to and during the plays at the 1 would have gone a long way in keeping the Colts honest. Yes, the O line may not have gotten the needed push, but that was an excellent, quick and agile group on the other side of the ball who had the D called to stop the exact plays we called. Hard for any line to overcome stacking the middle the way they did.

I agree, Leron is not Lorenzo Neal. So why expect the same results? Neal made a career of opening huge holes for various marquee running backs, we really can't expect the same from Leron at this point in his career. It's a shame Neal is not again in our backfield. He is one of the best FBs in the history of the game. It seems Leron may be more of a natural bashing RB than FB.

Spot on with McGahee. To be fair; Why did we bring him in cold and expect results? I'm not sure Parmele could have done any better considering the situation.

I say bring back some imagination in the play calling and use the no huddle more, up the tempo as we did in the Denver game. Keep the D off balance and guessing, thus making any play harder to defend.

Finally, that was a 30 yarder Cundiff missed! Enough said.
[/quote]


It was a bad snap/hold. go watch it again.


Anyway, I think our interior line need some work, but oher/gaither will only get better.

[BloodRaven]

They all need work and to be more consistent, and Gaither/Oher can't just rely on their physical tools.